21-year-old Kentwood man dead after early morning high-speed crash

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

21-year-old Kentwood man dead after early morning high-speed crash

KENTWOOD, La. – A 21-year-old man was killed this morning when his car left the road and slammed into a tree at a high rate of speed.

The collision occurred near the intersection of LA 1054 and North River Road around 4:45 a.m. on December 7, according to the Louisiana State Police.

Derek Jerel Martin was not wearing a seatbelt and was killed by the impact.

Martin was headed westbound in his 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier when the car left the road at a curve in the road and collided with a tree.

Speed is thought to have been a contributing factor, and blood samples have been sent to the lab for analysis, according to the LSP.

“Please take a moment to speak with your loved ones about the importance of their safe decisions,” Trooper Dustin Dwight said in a press release. “Remind them to always wear a seatbelt, never drive impaired, and to avoid distractions. The conversation could be the difference in a serious crash.”